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Dealing with 'Undelieverable' Replies

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The 'From' Email Address

The 'From' email address will receive bounce-back emails. Bounces include things like out of office replies and any email that is 'undeliverable'. Basically, it's the email client informing the sender that something happened between point A and B. Webtools cannot intervene nor change this behavior.

Since you risk getting lots of these unedliverable emails, here are 3 practical options:

1. Use our 'no-reply' address

Typically, creators of emails like to use an email address that is recognizable. Alternatively, you can use "no-reply-webservices@illinois.edu". This is an inbox that users will recognize as not receiving replies. Since you are also providing the "Name" of your sender, it will still appear nicely in the inbox as being from whomever you choose.

2. Use a person's email address

This is the most common method. However, people don't like to get the bounce backs. If you are sending a lot of emails, this can mean an overloaded inbox. One way around this is to setup an Outlook Folder and Route Emails automatically. Here's how to set up a rule in Outlook:

3. Use a service account like ours (webservices@illinois.edu)

If you send many emails on behalf of an organized entity, and not an individual person, you may want to look into getting an account dedicated to this. Contact your local IT staff about setting up a special address to handle this.